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Glite Dictionary
to strike a light

to strike a light

1 7.0
To make a flame with a match or lighter
  • idiom
translation icon : encender
  • Jang struck a light, drew on the pipe, and the distinctive burning brush scent of cannabis filled the air.

Examples

  • Before starting the campfire, he had to strike a light with a match.

  • To see in the dark, she decided to strike a light and use her flashlight.

  • Field was probably trying to decide whether or not to strike a light.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Neither did I see him strike a light.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Strike a light!

    Paddington 2 (2017)

  • In the tomb, Carem struck a light and lit a torch.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Instead, I snuck the butt of a half-smoked filter cigarette from an ashtray and struck a light from a handy Berghoff matchbook.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • When it got dark, he knew he needed to strike a light to find his way home.

Synonyms

to light
vsto strike a light
905 1.0

To make something start to burn or shine

often means producing a flame by striking a match or similar
to ignite
vsto strike a light
66 4.0

To make something start burning

does this by producing a flame often by striking a match
to give a light
vsto strike a light
4 3.2

To offer a flame to start a cigarette or candle

focuses on producing the flame itself often by striking a match
to set alight
vsto strike a light
  • UK
1 4.2

To make something start burning

does this by producing a flame often by striking a match
to strike flint
vsto strike a light
8.7

To make a small spark by hitting a piece of flint to start a fire

is a more general way to make a flame often using a match
to enkindle
vsto strike a light
  • Archaic
9.1

To make something start to burn, like a fire or a strong feeling

is literal and practical producing an actual flame by striking a match

Antonyms

to extinguish
23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

to snuff out
6 4.7

Stop a flame, candle, or small fire from burning

How Bright

to light
905 1.0
to strike a light
1 7.0
to spark
26 2.8

Surface Forms

strike a light infinitive
striking a light present participle
strikes a light third person singular
struck a light past
struck a light past participle

Morphology

strike + a + light

The meaning 'to produce a flame or ignition' is directly and compositionally derived from 'strike' (to produce by hitting or causing) plus 'light' (to set on fire or illuminate); the structure mirrors transparent patterns like 'strike a match' or 'light a fire'. This action-based, cross-linguistically common concept makes the expression predictable for a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

The phrase strike a light comes from the simple action of strike meaning 'to hit' and light meaning 'a flame', when people struck a match or flint to make a small fire. So it means 'to light something'.